to plan your catering
Welcome to our Meet Your Manager series! Today, we’re hanging out with our seasoned Catering Operations Area Manager, Laura Prieto, the secret sauce behind our Los Angeles operations. Laura’s the one making sure we remain the #1 choice for office catering and cafeteria solutions that LA employees crave.
LA’s Secret Sauce: Meet the Seasoned Area Manager Bringing a Fresh Vibe to Our West Coast Clients
- Laura Prieto
- Catering Operations Area Manager
- Los Angeles
What did you do prior and how did you end up at Zerocater?
I started my career in catering at a small family-owned catering company coordinating social events, corporate luncheons, and weddings. I grew into a director of catering role, managing employees, vendor relationships as well as social media. It was all very fulfilling, especially working with brides and putting together beautiful bespoke catered events. I was seeking something different and saw the opportunity at Zerocater where I could use my skills for corporate catering. It’s an amazing thing to work in the catering space where you have most weekends off!
What is unique or motivating about the work you do at Zerocater?
I love that no two days are ever the same as a Catering Operations Area Manager. I get to be on site with our clients and OSS, while also collaborating with colleagues across departments and different markets. It’s such a great balance of being hands-on while also working cross functionally to bring everything together.
Reflecting on your tenure here at Zerocater, what are you most proud of, and what are you most excited about next?
The absolute highlight of my time at Zerocater has been building out the LA Market and seeing it grow. We had one small client when I started. It’s been exciting launching new clients and getting to hire and train my team! I am really looking forward to some new upcoming client launches in the LA market, working through new logistical challenges and continuing to grow my amazing team.
Which Zerocater value resonates most with your team?
While my team definitely exemplifies all our values in different ways, Be Customer Obsessed is the one that motivates my team to put their best foot forward. Everything we do is to create delight for our customers. My team loves to go that extra mile and greet clients by name as well as anticipate their needs.
If there was one word or phrase that describes the company culture what would it be and why?
People-First. Whether it’s our clients, our vendors or our internal teams, there’s a genuine focus on relationships and showing up for each other. I see it in the way our teams collaborate across markets, support one another in real time, and go the extra mile to make sure our clients feel taken care of. There’s a strong sense of trust and accountability, but also a lot of care behind everything we do, and that really stands out.
Do you have a favorite cookbook?
One of my current favorites is Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy, Lean and Fit. I won this cookbook in a Spring Wellness Challenge Zerocater hosted! I love how approachable the recipes are while still feeling elevated. One that stands out to me is a lighter pasta dish with meatballs and zucchini noodles. It’s a great balance of comfort food and something a bit healthier, the kind of recipe that feels satisfying but not heavy. That’s a balance I value just as much in my day-to-day life as I do in the work I take on.
Who was the first person who taught you how to cook?
My mom was the first person who taught me how to cook. One of the first dishes I learned was Mexican rice, and it’s still something I make to this day. It taught me the basics of timing, seasoning, and trusting the process. Cooking with her is really where my love for food started, and it’s something that’s stayed with me throughout my career.
Want to join Laura’s team? Click here!
